Tag: Shaheen Afridi

KOLKATA: Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi on Tuesday, added another feather to his cap as he became the fastest pacer to take 100 wickets in ODI cricket during his side’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash against Bangladesh.

Shaheen achieved the milestone in 51 innings and overtook previous record-holder Mitchell Starc, who conceded 52 innings.

The left-arm pacer had 99 wickets before taking the field against Bangladesh and he did not have to wait much to reach the landmark as he dismissed Tanzid Hasan for a five-ball duck in the first over.

Shaheen Afridi then picked up two more wickets including the prized scalp of Mahmudullah to return magnificent figures of 3/23 in his nine overs.

He reminded cricket fans of legendary pacer Wasim Akram when he disturbed Bangladesh’s Mahmudullah’s woodwork.

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In the 30th over of the Bangladesh innings, the left-arm pacer pitched the ball on good length and between the middle and off stump. The delivery went through Mahmudullah’s defences and hit the middle stump.

The dismissal was similar to that of former England batter Alan Knott by Wasim Akram in the final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 1992.

The International Cricket Council shared a video of the moment on Instagram.

Notably, Shaheen also became the fastest Pakistan bowler to complete 100 ODI wickets, overtaking legendary spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who took 53 innings.

Coming back to the match, Pakistan pacers ran through the Bangladesh batting lineup to book them on a paltry 204.

Mahmudullah top-scored for Bangladesh with a 70-ball 56, hitting six boundaries and a six. Litton Das (45) and skipper Shakib Al Hasan (43) also made significant contributions but failed to power their side to a big total.

Fastest pacers 100 ODI wickets (matches)

51 – Shaheen Shah Afridi
52 – Mitchell Starc
54 – Shane Bond
54 – Mustafizur Rahman
55 – Brett Lee

READ: Pakistan’s fiery pace attack books Bangladesh at 204

Pakistan legend Waqar Younis on Monday advised misfiring strike bowler Shaheen Shah Afridi to learn from India seamer Jasprit Bumrah if he wants to make an impact at the ICC World Cup 2023.

Shaheen Afridi is struggling with his pace and fitness and has been unimpressive in all three games at the ICC World Cup 2023 where his four wickets have come at a cost of 139 runs.

“I don’t know if there is a problem with his fitness,” Waqar, who is in India as a commentator, told AFP.

“The missing link in his bowling is discipline and he is over trying to get wickets.

“When you do the same thing again and again, like Shaheen is bowling to get his yorker going, then batsmen know that and they are ready for it.”

Waqar Younis suggested Shaheen Afridi should follow the example set by Bumrah who he described as a “top bowler.”

The Indian spearhead is the joint top wicket-taker in the ICC World Cup 2023 with eight wickets at just 11.52.

New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner and fast bowler Matt Henry also have eight victims each.

India thumped Pakistan by seven wickets in Ahmedabad on Saturday, with Shaheen unable to help Pakistan defend a meagre 192-run target.

In contrast, Bumrah dismissed Mohammad Rizwan and Shadab Khan with two well-executed deliveries to finish with 2-19 in seven overs.

“Bumrah is creating pressure and his line is top of the off stump. He bowled so well against Pakistan and created pressure to get wickets,” said Waqar.

Shaheen, 23, has been leading Pakistan’s new-ball attack since taking 16 wickets in five World Cup games in the United Kingdom four years ago.

He has been likened to former great Wasim Akram who with 414 Test and 502 ODI wickets was regarded as one of the best left-arm pacers to have played cricket.

But former India allrounder Ravi Shastri blasted the comparison during the Pakistan-India match, saying: “Shaheen is no Wasim Akram”, claiming that the Pakistan star is “not special.”

Waqar believes that the absence of regular new-ball partner Naseem Shah — ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023 with a shoulder injury — may have had a detrimental effect on Shaheen’s performances so far.

“Naseem is a good bowler and doesn’t give many runs away,” said Waqar of the 20-year-old.

“When Naseem creates pressure, batsmen take chances with other bowlers and they get wickets.”

Waqar Younis said Pakistan’s bowling was “lacking discipline” at the World Cup where three games have yielded two wins and one loss.

“I don’t think it’s because of missing just one bowler, but it’s because they are not keeping it simple.”

Pakistan, who beat the Netherlands and Sri Lanka before losing to India, next face Australia in Bengaluru on Friday.

READ: Zampa spins web to help Australia book Sri Lanka at 209

Pakistan pace ace Shaheen Shah Afridi has warned his devastating spell against arch-rivals India that set the Asia Cup alight is just the start, with the World Cup 2023 only weeks away.  

The left-arm fast bowler rattled the Indian top-order in their Group A clash last week, taking 4-35 — including the wickets of star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

That match was washed out but they meet again in Colombo on Sunday in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup, a precursor to the 50-over World Cup that kicks off next month.

And Shaheen Afridi told AFP there is more to come.

“Every match against India is special and people watch this a lot,” the 23-year-old said Friday. “I used to wait for this match as a fan before I played under-16 cricket.”

“I can’t say this has been my best spell so far. This is just the start and there will be many more, so the best is yet to come.”

With his ability to move the ball both ways, Shaheen leads one of the most potent pace attacks in the world.

“If you play all the three formats at such a young age for Pakistan and handle the new ball, people expect you to perform like that,” he said.

Shaheen and his fellow fast bowlers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf have picked up 23 wickets between them in the Asia Cup so far.

“We know our roles with the new and old ball,” Shaheen said.

“Haris is quicker than us and impacts with his pace. Naseem and I try to get early breakthroughs.”

The “communication is good between us,” he added. “And that’s our success.”

Shaheen, who stands at 6 feet and 6 inches (1.98 metres), suffered a serious knee injury last year but returned strongly in Sri Lanka in July.

“It’s your match time that helps you improve. These Test matches against Sri Lanka recently made me improve as I bowled long spells and fielded all day,” said Shaheen, who has 105 wickets in 27 Tests.

“So that cleared all doubts about the knee injury.”

Shaheen Afridi has never played cricket in India — bilateral cricket ties are frozen because of political tensions between the neighbours.

He is keen to do well when Pakistan take on hosts India in the hotly anticipated World Cup match in Ahmedabad on October 14.

“All the foreign players who have played in the IPL (Indian Premier League), we had discussions with them. I think our Pakistan wickets or Dubai pitches will be similar,” he said.

“Spinners will get more help, maybe. We will hit good lengths. Our team performance is going well as the number one (ODI) team. We have prepared well.”

Shaheen Afridi is married to one of the daughters of former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, and said he speaks to the former all-rounder before every big match.

“I try to pick his brains before a big game and include it in my plans as he was a big-match player,” said Shaheen.

“He talks simply and says: ‘Just play your cricket’.”

A fan of legendary Pakistani left-arm fast bowler Wasim Akram, Shaheen Afridi said he keeps his focus on the field by avoiding cricket off it.

“I don’t go out much and stay in my room. Just stay indoors, make green tea… and talk about anything other than cricket,” he said.

“That keeps me relaxed.”

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Babar Azam believes Pakistan has an ‘edge’ over India

Former Pakistan speedster Shoaib Akhtar on Thursday said the team’s current pace attack, featuring Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah reminds him of the era of the great pair of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis.

Pakistan’s pace trio is one of the world’s best fast-bowling attacks, and they proved it in the ongoing ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2023.

The trio has taken 23 wickets between them in the first three matches of the Asia Cup co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka, a precursor to next month’s one-day international World Cup in India.

Left-arm pacer Shaheen rattled the Indian top order last week in a group match that was abandoned due to rain after just one innings and remains a threat ahead of a key Super Four clash between the arch-rivals on Sunday.

“These youngsters are very, very talented and I am happy that Pakistan is able to produce such fast bowlers over and over again,” Shoaib Akhtar said in an online chat organised by Star Sports.

“This pace battery reminds me of the old days… reminds me of that era of two Ws (Waqar and Wasim). They are very confident and have the mindset of taking wickets.”

Wasim and Waqar took over 900 ODI wickets between them, striking fear into the hearts of opposing batsmen with their lightning-fast reverse swing deliveries.

Shaheen leads the charge with new-ball partner Naseem, but it is first-change Rauf who tops the Asia Cup bowling chart with nine wickets.

Pakistan thrashed Bangladesh in the opening match of the Super Fours in Lahore on Wednesday with Rauf returning 4-19 from his six overs.

“I would say Shaheen Shah Afridi is on top of his career right now. Haris Rauf has a wicket-taking mindset like Shaheen,” said Shoaib Akhtar, who later joined Pakistan’s pace attack alongside Wasim and Waqar.

“I would just advise Naseem to bowl more wicket-taking deliveries than be a stock bowler. He seams the ball more than Shaheen and can penetrate more.”

Pakistan has had a history of producing great fast bowlers including Fazal Mahmood, Sarfraz Nawaz and World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan.

Shoaib Akhtar said Pakistan remain favourites to win the Asia Cup and the World Cup starting October 5 and predicted Babar Azam’s team will topple India in both tournaments.

READ: Asia Cup 2023: Pakistan team reaches Colombo

DUBAI: The International League T20 (ILT20) franchise Desert Vipers have roped in ace Pakistan pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi for the second edition of the cash-rich league.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who proved his mettle across the world with his excruciating pace and sensational swing, spearheaded the new players’ signings list for the ILT20 Season 2.

“All-format Pakistan superstar Shaheen Shah Afridi spearheads the new players signings list for the DP World ILT20 Season 2,” said ILT20 in a statement.

“The fast bowler who has made a stunning impression around the world with his pacy left-arm deliveries (229 wickets in 161 T20s) will play for the inaugural season’s finalists Desert Vipers,” the statement added.

The full list of new Season 2 signings will be revealed in the coming days, with the event set to take place in January-February 2024, a window that is likely to clash with the ninth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Upon being picked by the inaugural season’s runners-up Desert Vipers, Shaheen Shah Afridi expressed excitement and hope that the fans will support his team in the next edition.

“I am excited to join the Desert Vipers. I know there are many Pakistan cricket fans in the UAE, and I hope they will support our team in the upcoming DP World ILT20,” Shaheen was quoted saying by ILT20.

Making his T20I debut in 2018, Shaheen Afridi soon made a name for himself in the international circuit. His exceptional performances across formats in 2021, earned him The Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – the biggest ICC annual award for a cricketer.

In his decorated and rising international career, Shaheen Afridi has thus far taken 239 wickets (105 Tests, 70 ODIs and 64 T20Is).

In recent years, Shaheen Shah Afridi has emerged as a lethal force with the new ball as the left-arm pacer has thus far taken 42 first-over wickets in the T20 format.

READ: West Indies end six-year drought with T20I series victory over India

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has revealed his batting plan against fellow Pakistani pacers Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf, in the upcoming The Hundred clash on Thursday.

Shadab Khan, currently playing for Birmingham Phoenix, shared his strategy for facing Welsh Fire’s Shaheen and Haris on the field. He simply aims to “Whack them for sixes.”

Shadab is playing in The Hundred for the first time, after missing out on earlier editions due to national commitments.

He made his debut in the rain-effected game against Northern Supercharges. Shadab got out for a duck before the match was abandoned due to rain.

“When you play against your friends and perform against each other, you’re teasing each other about it all year,” Shadab said.

He further added: “They’re my close mates, so I want to beat them – because they beat me in the PSL.”

Shaheen Afridi is currently the joint-second leading wicket-taker in the Hundred with five wickets from three games, while Haris Rauf has managed to pick up three wickets so far.

Pakistan’s pace duo will be replaced by New Zealand bowlers Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry in the Welsh Fire’s side for the latter part of the Hundred, as they are set to leave for national duty.

Shadab Khan, along with Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf will depart from the UK to join Pakistan’s ODI squad for their series against Afghanistan later this month in Sri Lanka.

“Slowly, we are building up our workload,” Afridi says. “It won’t be easy in Sri Lanka – different weather as well – but hopefully in the Asia Cup and World Cup we will do very well.”

READ: Aaqib Javed rates Zaman Khan over Naseem Shah in white-ball cricket

Recently retired England pace bowler Stuart Broad showered praise on Pakistan’s premier fast bowler Shaheen Afridi’s bowling action and termed him one of his favourite bowlers.

Talking to Sky Sports, Broad said, “Shaheen Shah Afridi is one of my favourite bowlers to watch in the world. He’s got such a presence about him when he runs in, and I love to see bowlers run in with energy and vibrancy to their run up.”

He further praised Shaheen for his impressive bowling skills, “He’s got such a natural skill — the way that ball swings back into the right-handers is such a pleasure to watch,”

Stuart Broad recently retired from international cricket at the end of Ashes 2023, with 604 wickets in 167 test matches.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who represented Stuart Broad’s home county side, Notts Outlaws in this year’s T20 Blast, made his presence felt with his all-round abilities.

The left-arm pacer picked up 21 wickets in 13 matches during his T20 Blast stint. He also made notable contributions with the bat for the Outlaws, whose journey ended after a five-wicket defeat against eventual champions Somerset in the quarter-final.

“And he represented the Notts Outlaws this summer, which is close to my heart. He’s one of the bowlers I admire hugely, and I want to see him do well,” Broad added.

Shaheen Afridi is playing for Welsh Fire in the ongoing The Hundred and has set the league on fire with his fiery pace bowling. He picked three wickets in two games. Shaheen’s team will face Oval Invincibles tomorrow.

The Hundred started on August 1, and the final is set to take place on August 27 at Lord’s. Trent Rockets are defending champions, having won the final in 2022 by defeating Manchester Originals by two wickets.

READ: Surrey Jaguars storm into the GT20 final as Knights falter

Pakistan’s ace fast bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi, etched his name in cricket history on Friday, becoming the first bowler to take four wickets in the first over of a T20 match.

During a T20 Blast match between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire, the 23-year-old pacer became the first bowler ever to claim four wickets in the opening over of a T20 match.

Shaheen Shah Afridi’s incredible display unfolded as he took the wickets on the first, second, fifth, and sixth balls of his maiden over.

Shaheen Afridi, you cannot do that!! 💥 https://t.co/ehXxmtz6rX pic.twitter.com/wvibWa17zA

— Vitality Blast (@VitalityBlast) June 30, 2023

He started by dismissing opener Alex Davies with a yorker, followed by bowling out Chris Benjamin. Dan Mousley then fell victim to a catch by Olly Stone after playing a shot straight into his hands. Shaheen Shah Afridi completed his four-wicket haul by bowling out Ed Barnard.

Despite his exceptional performance, Nottinghamshire faced defeat against Warwickshire by two wickets. The Bears successfully chased down the target of 169 runs in 19.1 overs, thanks to an impressive innings by opener Robert Yates, who scored 65 runs off 46 balls. Glenn Maxwell, Jacob Bethell, and Jake Lintott also contributed crucial runs to secure the victory.

As of now, Warwickshire sits at the top of the North Group points table, having won 10 out of 13 matches. Nottinghamshire, on the other hand, currently holds the fourth position with seven wins out of 13 matches.

Shaheen Shah Afridi joined Nottinghamshire Outlaws for this year’s Blast tournament, having previously represented Hampshire Hawks in the 2020 edition. In a match against Middlesex, he had also taken four wickets on four consecutive deliveries.

The T20 Blast, now in its 21st edition, was the first precision T20 league when it was inaugurated in June 2003 as the Twenty20 Cup.

READ: Sri Lanka edge Netherlands to retain dominance in CWC Qualifiers 

DERBY: Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi once again impressed with his all-round brilliance and powered Nottinghamshire to a three-wicket victory over Derbyshire in the ongoing T20 Blast.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has been a valuable asset for Nottinghamshire in the ongoing edition of the T20 Blast, not just with the ball but also with the bat.

In his side’s latest away fixture against Derbyshire, Shaheen Shah Afridi shone with the ball and took two wickets for just 37 runs in his quota of four overs.

After going wicketless in his first spell, the left-arm pacer returned to breathe fire and disrupted Derbyshire’s expedition for a commendable total and the home side could only accumulate 142/6 in 20 overs.

Shaheen Shah Afridi struck in each of his last two overs and removed Brook Guest (25) and Tom Wood (4).

Set to chase a modest 143, Nottinghamshire’s batting lineup struggled and slipped to 123/6 in 17 overs despite notable contributions by Alex Hales (35) and Samit Patel (28).

Coming out to bat at No.8 when his side needed a further 20 runs in three overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi seized the opportunity to showcase his batting abilities and played an important cameo of 14 runs off just seven deliveries.

He smashed two sixes in his brief yet clutch knock and made the task easier for Nottinghamshire before his Lahore Qalandars’ teammate Zaman Khan removed him.

Following his late fireworks, Nottinghamshire completed the pursuit with eight balls to spare and edged Derbyshire by three wickets.

The three-wicket victory over Derbyshire propelled Nottinghamshire to the top of the T20 Blast North Group standings with 12 points in nine matches.

READ: Novak Djokovic reaches French Open final at Carlos Alcaraz’s disposal 

NOTTINGHAM: Pakistan’s ace pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi continued to showcase his batting skills as he smashed Michael Bracewell for four sixes in an over in the T20 Blast on Friday.

Shaheen Shah Afridi has once again proved his mettle with the bat as he played a blistering 29-run knock in his side Notts Outlaws T20 Blast fixture against Worcestershire.

📹 Crowd catches at the ready…😳

Afridi pumps Bracewell for four sixes off the 16th over.

Notts require 68 from 24 deliveries.

Watch #TrentBridgeLive ➡️ https://t.co/yDigGw70U5 pic.twitter.com/qXgyKFsKiK

— Nottinghamshire CCC (@TrentBridge) June 2, 2023

Notts Outlaws had a mountain to climb in their fifth match of the T20 Blast campaign as the table-toppers Worcestershire set them to chase a mammoth 227 runs.

In pursuit, the home side got off to a decent start courtesy of a brilliant 58-run partnership between Joe Clarke (25 off 16) and Alex Hales which ended with the former’s departure in the fifth over.

Clarke’s dismissal triggered a collapse and Notts Outlaws soon slipped to 126/7 when top-scorer Alex Hales walked back after a fighting 35-ball 71 which featured eight boundaries and three sixes.

Shaheen Shah Afridi came out to bat at No. 9 when his side needed 101 runs in six overs.

The left-handed batter provided a late excitement for the home crowd as he thwacked four sixes to Michael Bracewell in the 16th over.

Shaheen Shah Afridi went on to score 29 off 11 deliveries, laced up with a boundary and four sixes.

Despite late fireworks, Shaheen Afridi’s Notts Outlaws ended up losing by a massive margin of 56 runs after they were bowled for a modest 170 while chasing 227.

Notably, Shaheen Shah Afridi had a rather off day with the ball as the left-arm pacer went for aplenty and could only pick up a wicket.

In his quota of four overs, Shaheen Shah Afridi leaked 45 runs at an economy rate of 11.25 and was hit for 10 boundaries.

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